Titanic composer James Hornerdied Monday morning when his single-engine plane crashed in Southern California. The 61-year-old was later confirmed dead by his assistant, Sylvia Patrycja.

"We have lost an amazing person with a huge heart, and unbelievable talent," Patrycja wrote on her Facebook page on the evening of Monday, June 22. "He died doing what he loved. Thank you for all your support and love and see you down the road."

James in January 1998.

James was one of the most popular film composers in the last 30 years and worked on blockbuster movies including Avatar, Braveheart, Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, among others.

In 1997, he was awarded two Academy Awards (Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Original Song) for Titanic. The movie's soundtrack — which featured hit song "My Heart Will Go On," performed by Céline Dion — remains the highest-selling film score album of all time.